Speed-changing gearing



Sem. 4., 1923.

TR. A. Pom-AINE l SPEED HANemG GEAMNG` Filed'may a. 1921 '3 sheets-sheet 1 ,M7/2555 l l www@ Sept. 4, i923. A

- R. A. FQNTASINE SPEED Cuaresma QEARING Filed May 2. l92l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i i 57 I R. A. FNTABNE SPEED camsGmG GEARING Filed may 2. 1921 Sept.

Illllll 4 a citizen of the SPEED-QHAN GIN G GEARING.

Application led ay 2, 1921.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. FONTAINE, United States, residing at Martinsville, in the county of Henry and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Changin Gearing; and I do hereby declare the llowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in. the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a speed changing drawings, the invention is not alone applicable to the transmission of power from one means of gears, but may also be embodied in mechanism inshaft to a parallel shaft by volving the use of sprockets or suitable connecting belting.

The principal feature of the invention, generally stated, resides in mounting a plurality of gears upon each of two parallel shafts and in providing means for selectively connecting each of the gears to the shaft upon which it is mounted, certain of the gears on each shaft being connected'in pairs to rotate relatively to each other, and the corresponding gears on the said shafts being at all times in mesh.

A further feature of the invention consists in employing a plurality of hollow parallel shafts having openings through their peripheries and in loosely mounting upon each pulleys and I of said shafts a plurality of gears, the said gears being adapted to be selectively connected to their respective shafts by a plurality of spring pressed keys each of which is slidably mounted within one of said shafts in such manner that it may be caused to project at will through the peripheral opening in the shaft with which it is associated and thereby cause the neighboring gear to be coupled to the shaft.

There are other features of the invention residing in particular combinations and in details of contruction all'as will hereinafter appear.

shafts gearing suitable for use 1n power transmission i but illustrating a modified form of m sei-iai no. tisane.

In the drawings chosen for the purpose of illustrating the invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,*

igure 1 is a side elevation of aspeed changing gearing embodying the invention and Yof the, preferred manually controlled.

igure 2 is a detail vertical section of thefspeed changing gearing illustrated in Fig. l, the Hy wheel and manually operated controlling means being omitted and one of the being shown in elevation. F Figure 3 is a section' on the line 3,-3,

ig. v

Figure 4 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showng the man# ner of connecting the ey operating means withthe keys by which the gears are selectively coupled to their respective shafts.-

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5 5, Fi 2.

-Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of a pair of rigidly connected gears vwith which the mechanism is provided. l F Figure is a detail section on the line 7 7,

Figure 8 is a View correponding to F ig. 2

1nsprocket pulleys and their are embodied in the convention in which connecting belts struction.

In the drawings, l and 2 respectively indicate a pair of parallel revoluble shafts each of which is m i for this latter pir openings 4 which cominterior of their res ec'` tive shafts. Each shaft has a longitudinal channel 5 into which the adjacent ke 3 closely fits, so that each key is compelled to rotate with `its shaft.

The shafts I and 2 may be suitably jour` naled in al two-part housing 6, the ]ournal bearings referably being formed as stuffing boxes 7 which are interposed between the sections of the housing.

A plurality of gears is loosely mounted upon each of the shafts. The succeeding gears on each shaft are of different diameters, large and small gears alternating with each other. In the particular form of construction illustrated in. the drawings gears of only two different diameters are emnos iio

rings 12 and the correspon ,spective shafts,

ployed, each shaft bearing three large gears 8 and three smaller gears 9. t will be understood, of course, that the size of the'gears and the number employed may be varied to suit special circumstances.

The gears or power transmission means 8 upon one shaft are at all times in mesh with the gears or power transmission means 9 iipon the other shaft.` Suitable spacing sleeves 10 may be mounted upon the shaft 2 to maintain its gears in meshing relation with the gears of i' Each gear 8 and an adjacent gear 9 are rigidly connected by means of pins or keys 11 to a split annulus 12 through the split of which a clutch lug 13 projects towar the neighboring shaft. The annulus 12 and clutch lug 13- in effect constitute a shouldered sleeve by which neighborin gears 8 an upon each shaft are rigid y connected in pairs. Y

' Interposed between the respective split ding shafts are a plurality of bearing rings 14. These rings. which are loosely mounted upon their reare arraiiged'in pairs, the of each pair being spaced from each and being rigidly connected by means of. keys or pins 15 to the annulus 12 by which they are encircled. 4The rings 14 of each pair are maintained in spaced relation by the respective clutch lugs 13 which project therebetween'.

The opposed faces of each pair of rings 16, to correspond Y faces of the corresponding sliding keys 3. This beveling of the faces of the bearing rings 14 and the corresponding beveling of the keys 3 pei'- mits the latter to be readily shifted along their respective shafts so as to release theui froml driving engagement with the mating clutch lugs 13.

i Each key 3 operative "or spring 17 rings other `to the oppositely beveled is normally maintained in driving posi ion by" a bar which is rigidly secured to the adjacent key by cap screws 18. Each sV ring 17 may be formed with curved portions whicli are disposed upon opposite sides of the key andl are adapted to bear against the interior surface of the neighboring revoliible shaft. The outer end of each spring is preferably connected to the adjacent operating rod 19 by which the associated key is manually shifted. in a inanner permitting said rods to be unaffected by the rotation of theI shafts 1 and 2. To this end each of the rods 19 may be provided at its inner end with a cylindrical axial stud having a cylindrical head 29 which latter is adapted to extendinto correspondin semicircular bearing grooves 2 formed'in a pair of similar bars 22 between which the outer end of the adjacent spring 17 extends and to which said spring is secured withoutcapability of rotation with respect thereto. The spring 17 may be conto the adjacent clamping veiiiently secured bars 22 by providing the latter with pins adapted to extend or lugs 23 which arc through corresponding apertures 24. in the spring. The clamping cylindrical segments and together with Athe portion ofthe spring clamped between them form a cylindrical unit which fits closely within the bore 25 of the neighboring shaft. Vlien in assembled position the engagement of the clamping bars 22 with the neighbor; ing shaft serves to maintain them in connected relation with the spring 17 and with the adjacent operating rod 19. The outer end of each of the operating rods may be formed with a perforated lug 26 affording means for attaching a suitable operating lever 27 or other desired device for shifting the rods 19 longitudinally with respect to the corresponding shafts, 1 and 2, respectively.

The construction shown in' Fig. 8 is a modification of my invention showing the manner of employing sprocket wheels as power transmission elements for communicating the rotation of a i'evoliible shaft to a parallel shaft in aspeed changing mechanism, the construction here illustrated being one in which the sprocket wheels ai'e einployed to cause yboth shafts to rotate in the same direction. ln this form of my linvention 28 and 29 respectively indicate the parallel revoluble shafts. the former being hollow and the latter being solid. As shown. the shafts 28 and 29 may be journaled in a casing in substantially the saine manner as the shafts 1 and 2 of the construction herciiibefore described.

Rigidly mounted upon the shaft 29. as b v means of Aa key 30. is a gear 31 which is vcontinuously in mesh with a smaller gear 32 revolving loosely upon the hollow shaft 28. Journaled upon the shaft 29 is a bearing sleeve42 upon which are revoliibly mounted gears 33. 34, 35 and 36 and a sprocket wheel 37. The gears 33 and 34 are rigidly united to rotate together, and the gears 35 and 3G and thesprocket wheel 37 are similarly attached so that. they too rotate as a unit. The several gears 33, 34. 35 and 36 constantly mesh. respectively, with gears 38, 39. 49 and 41 mounted upon the shaft 28. The gears 32, 38. 39 and 40 are connected 'in pairs. that is to say. the gears 32 and 38 are rigidly united and the'gears 39 and 49 are similarly united. both pairs of gears being adapted to revolve at different rates. A revoliible bearing sleeve 42 is preferably interposed between the shaft 28 and the gears 32, 38', 39 and 40.

The gear 41, whichineshes with the gear 36 upon the shaftI 29, is mounted upon split ybeveledv bearing rings 43, the said gear bars aie made as` ing I nembers 22 by which the spring being secured to said rings by means of pins or keys 44. A clutch lug 45 is located in the splits of the neighboring bearing rings and projects between said rings so as to be capable of engaging the adjacent bevel key 3. The sprocket Wheel 46, which is adapted to rotate upon the shaft 28l relatively to the gear 41, is mounted upon said shaft in the same manner` that between the and the said rings are spaced apart by a clutch lug 45 which is located in the splits of the rings and is adapted to engage slidable key 3. Pins or keys 44 serve to secure the sprocket wheel-46 rigidlyto the adjacent bearing rings. The sprocket wheels 37 and 46 are belted together by means of a sprocket chain 47.

The key 3, its actuating spring 17,

the key and the separable clamppressed key 1s revolubly connected to the operating rod, correspond in form and function to the correspondingly numbered heretofore have been described. l

The shaft 2 may be provided with a fly wheel 48 so that when changing from one speed to anotherl only the difference in the rate of rotation of the gears successively coupled to" the shaft 2 need be taken into account.

The wide range of changes in speed which may be accomplished by a mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention will be readily appreciated. Thus, let it be assumed that the gear ratio of the gears 8 and 9 shown in the principal figures `of the drawings is l to 2, and that the shaft l has a speed of 2000 revolutions per minute. the appropriate operating rod 19 -is properly manipulated to shift its key 3 alon the shaft until the gear 8 at the right hand end of the mechanism is connected to said shaft, then the successive pairs gears 8 and 9 from right to left upon the shaft 2iwill be `caused to rotate at the following respective speeds: 4000 revolutions per minute; 516000 revolutions per minute; and 64000 revolutions per minute. As an pair of gears upon the shaft 2 may be selectively connected to said shaft by prop- .erly positioning the associated key 3, it will be perceived that this shaft may be to revolve either at the rate of 4000 revolutions per minute or 16000I revolutions per minute or 64000 revolutions per minute.` it isdesired that the shaft 2 be rotated at key 3 associated with the shaft slid lengthwise of said shaft until, for example, the gear 9 at the left hand end of Fig.`2 is connected to the shaft 1. In such a case the several pairs of gears 8 and 9 l may be allel shafts,

Y ed on the other shaft.

said shaft, and

other ,shaft to and disconnecting it from at less than 2000`revolut1ons per mlnute the 1 from left to right upon the shaft 2 Will be caused to rotate at thefollowing respective rates: 1000 revolutions per minute; 250 revolutions per minute, and 62g` revolutions per minute. By means of the appropriate sliding key 3 any one of these pairs of gears 8 and 9 may be operatively connected to the shaft 2 to cause the latter to have a corresponding rate of rotation. Various other c anges in rates of speed may obviously be effected by connecting different gears to the shafts upon which they are mounted. Other speed ratios may, of course, be obtained by employing gears having a different ratio from that assumed.

It is believed that the mode of operation of the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 will be readily understood from foregoing description, but it may added that when the gear 41 the shaft 28 the will rotate in shafts may direction by to its shaft.

1. In a speed changing gearing, bination With a plurality of revoluble parallel shafts, of a plurality of gears loosely mounted upon each shaft, means for 'maintaining said shafts againstV longitudinal and means for selectively conthe shaft upon the gears upon a corresponding one of the gears upon the other shaft, and certain of the gears on each shaft being rigidly connected to rotate. together.

2. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a plurality of revoluble parof a plurality of gears loosely mounted upon each shaft, and means for separallel shafts 28 and'29 opposite directions, While said be caused to rotate in the same coupling the sprocket wheel 46 g lectlvely connecting each of said gears to the together, and the gears ing respectively gears of a plurality of in mesh with adjacent pairs mount- I3. In a speedchanging gearing,

l mounted upon each shaft, means for connecting one of said gears to its shaft, said means being independently movable longitudinally of means for connecting said other shaft, shaft being gether.

is' coupled to A whereby a plurality of gears upon each shaft are caused to revolve with respect to each other, the several. gears upon one shaft being continuously in mesh with the respective gears on the other shaft.

l 9. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a plura ity of parallel revoluble shafts one of which is hollow, of means for driving one shaft from the other at a different speed, said means involving a plurality of gears mounted upon .each of said shafts, said gears upon one shaft continuously meshing with the respective gears upon the other` shaft, certain of said gears upon each shaft being rigidly connected to rotate together and alternate gears upon each shaft being adapted to rotate relatively to each other, means movable within said hollow shaft for connecting one of said gears to said hollow shaft, and means for connecting one of said gears upon the other shaft to its shaft.-

10. In a speed changing gearing, the com. bination with a plurality of revoluble parallel shafts, of means for driving one shaft from the other` said means involving a plurality of relatively rotable power transmission means loosely mounted upon each shaft, the said power transmission means upon one shaft beingrespectively adapted to cause the rotation of1said power 4. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a plurality of revoluble parl allel shafts, a plurality of gears mounted upon each shaft, certain of said gears on 5f each shaft being rigidly connectedto revolve together upon their respective shafts, and the corresponding gears on said shafts being continuously in mesh, means carried by one of said shafts and independently movable longitudinally thereof for causing the rotation of a pair of said rigidly connected gears loosely mounted on the other shaft, and means for causing one of said gears to revolve. at the same rate as said last named shaft.

5. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a plurality of revoluble shafts, of a plurality of gears mounted upon each of said shafts, and means for connecting at least one of said gears onfeach shaft to the shaft on which it is mounted, said means being respectively carried by and independently movable longitudinally'of the respective shafts, the gears on one of said shafts being continuously in mesh with the respective gears on the other shaft, certain of sai gears on each shaft being rigidly connected to rotate together, and alternate gears upon each shaft being adapted to rotate relatively to each other.

6. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a plurality of revoluble shafts, of a plurality of gears loosely mounted upon each of said shafts, the/said gears upon one shaft being continuously in mesh with the respective gears upon the other shaft, and means for selectively connecting each of said gearsY to the shaft upon which it is mounted, certain adjacent gears on each shaft being adapted to rotate at the same rate, and alternate gears upon each` haft being adapted to rotate relatively to each other.

7. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a plurality of hollow parallel shafts, of a plurality of gears loosely mounted upon each of said shafts, the said gears upon` one ,shaft being continuously in mesh with the respective gears upon the other shaft, and means movable within the said hollow shafts for selectively connecting sai gears to their respective shafts.

8. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a plurality of parallel revoluble shafts, of a plurality of gears loosely e, mounted on each of said shafts, some of said gears on each shaft being rigidly connected and some of said gears on eac shaft being adapted to rotate relatively to each other on the shaft upon which they are mounted, means for connecting at least one of said gears upon one shaft to its shaft, said means being mounted within said shaft and independ` ently movable longitudinally thereof, and means for connecting at will to said other 85 shaft one vof said gears mounted thereon,

transmission means on the other shaft, means for connecting at least one of said power transmission means to the shaft upon which it is mounted, and.k means for selectively connecting to the other shaft lone or another of a plurality of said transmission means mounted on said last named shaft` said last named means being mounted within and independently movable of said shaft.

1l. In a speed changing gearing, bination with a plurality of hollow parallel shafts having openings through their peripheries, of a plurality of gears loosely mounted upon each of said shafts, and means movable within said hollow shafts for selectively connecting said gears to their respective shafts, said means involving a plurality of spring pressed keys, each of said shafts having one of said keys mounted therein, and each of said keys being adapted to project through said peripheral opening in the. shaft with which it is associated.

12. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a plurality of parallel hollow shafts having openings through their peripheries, of a plurality of gears loosely mounted on eachof said shafts, a plurality of shouldered sleeves interpose tween said shafts and corresponding pairs of adjacent gears on each shaft, means for rigidly connecting each of said pairs of gears wit the said sleeve adjacent thereto, a plurality of spaced bearing rings interposed between each of said sleeves and the respective shafts, and a plurality of spring pressed keys movably mounted Within the respective shafts and nect said gears to their respective each of said keys being adapted to project through said peripheral opening in the shaft with which it is associated and being adapted to have driving engagement with said shouldered sleeves mounted on said last named shaft. f

13. In a speed changing gearing, the combination with a. plurality of parallel hollow shafts having peripheral openings therein, of a pluralityof beveled bearing rings journaled on each shaft, said rings belng arranged in pairs and the rings of each pair being spaced fromv each other along shafts,

cling relation to a rings and each being provided with a clutch lug extending between said rings toward the adjacent shaft, a plurality of gears mounted uponeach o f said sleeves, means for rigidly heir respective sleeves, and means for selectively connectnal on each shaft, said rings being arthe comadapted selectively' to con- `o rative position el hollow' pe rality of gears mounted lllpon each of saidv sleeves, means for rig y securing said gears to their 4respective sleeves, .and means for selectively connecting each of said sleeves to its respective shaft, said last named means involving a plurality of spring pressed keys which are veled to corre spond to said beveled bearing rings, said keys being movably mounted in the res ec tive shafts and each be' adapted se ectively to engage the clutch lugs of the sieeves associated with the corresponding shaft.

15. In a speed changing gearing, the comi of parallel revov luble shafts one of which is hollow, of a' binatlon with a plurality plurality of each of said ftS, least one of sai to the shaft upon which it is moun means within said hollow shaft androtatable therewith for connecting at least one of said gears to said hollow shaft, and means movable in the direction of length of said hollow shaft and una'ected by the rotation thereof for shifting said last named means at will either to or to inoperative posiupon gars revolubly mounted s ad tion.

means for connecting at In testimony whereof I ailix my signature. y 

